Perl Lists: A Final Look at List::Util - Min(List)...Your Guide to Minimalism (Page 2 of 4 )
Min(List) is very similar to max(List) in its usage. The only difference is that it returns the minimum numeric value in a list. Here we have it in code:
#!/usr/bin/perl
use List::Util qw(min);
@Nums=(1,900,50,22);
$Low=min(@Nums);
print $Low;
Here, we create a list named '@Nums', in which we store several numeric values. Next, we use min() to scan the list and find the lowest value, and store it in the $Low variable. Finally, we print the value out, resulting in:
1
As with our other subroutines, we can use min() in conjunction with operators, statements, and the like. Here it is with an if...else statement:
#!/usr/bin/perl
use List::Util qw(min);
@Nums=(1,900,50,22);
$Low=min(@Nums);
if($Low > 2) {print "The number $Low is greater than 2!"}
else {print "The value $Low is less than 2!"};
Again, we call our subroutine, then create the @Nums list, filling it with values. We then use min() to parse out the lowest value and store it in $Low. Lastly, we create an if...else statement that says if the value of $Low is greater than two, print out a statement. If the value is less than two, print out another statement. You will note of course that if the value were two, nothing would have happened. Here is the result:
The value 1 is less than 2!
We can perform some mathematics on our subroutine as well:
#!/usr/bin/perl
use List::Util qw(min);
@Nums=(1,900,50,22);
$Low=min(@Nums) + 1 * 25 +6 /9 -2;
print $Low;
Here we take the value of $Low and beat it to death with a bunch of math that I randomly selected, yet which oddly enough put us almost back at the number 25:
24.66666666666667
Give or take a six...
Finally, here is how we can compare the lowest values from two separate lists and have something occur from the result:
#!/usr/bin/perl
use List::Util qw(min);
@Nums=(1,900,50,22);
@Nums2=(90..898);
$Low=min(@Nums);
$Low2=min(@Nums2);
if($Low > $Low2) {print "$Low is greater than $Low2"}
else {print "$Low is less than $Low2"};
print "\n" .$Low . "\n";
print $Low2;
Here, this code creates two lists, @Nums and @Nums2. It assigns the first list some numeric values, and then uses a sequential operator to add the values 90-898 to @Nums2. Next, it uses min() to extract the lowest numeric value from @Nums and assign it to $Low. It then uses min() again to assign the lowest numeric value in @Nums2 to the variable $Low2. Finally, it runs an if...else statement that states if $Low is greater than $Low2, print something. Otherwise it will print something else. Note that if $Low and $Low2 are equal, nothing will happen.
Here is the result:
1 is less than 90
1
90
Next: MinStr(List) Like Them Small >>
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